The awards are judged on academic preparation, cumulative grade point average, experience in sports turf management, and references provided by student advisers and previous or current employers according to the Sports Turf Managers Association. Applicants are also evaluated on their contributions to their school, department, and organizations to which they belong, as well as their career objectives.

Jeff Lenihan (right) at Campey Turf Care in England.

Lenihan interned at Columbus Crew SC, the Major League Soccer team in Columbus, Ohio in 2014. From those connections he was able to secure an internship abroad last summer with Campey Turf Care Systems, an England-based turf machinery company. Campey Turf Care supplies innovative turf care machinery to greenskeepers and groundsmen around the world. As an intern, Lenin was able to travel all over Europe showing turf industry professional turf machinery. Lenihan wrote a blog on TurfNet.com about his internship in Europe.

After graduation Lenihan plans to pursue employment with Campey Turf Care or work as a groundsman in the MLS or in Europe. Lenihan’s advisor is Keenan Amundsen, an Agronomy and Horticulture assistant professor in turfgrass genetics.